Barbados shooting: Two British tourists, one aged in his 70s, shot on Caribbean holiday island

Moment British woman in her 50s on holiday in Barbados was gunned down along with male touristWoman and British man in his 70s were shot in island capital BridgetownHorrified tourists rushed to couple’s aid after hearing shots and screamsMale victim hit in his pelvis and woman received injury to her right thighPolice have not revealed names or what their current conditions areSome media reports say the two victims are married

By
Mail Foreign Service

PUBLISHED:

13:43 GMT, 18 March 2013

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UPDATED:

19:57 GMT, 18 March 2013

Two Britons on a Caribbean cruise were recovering in hospital today after being shot by an armed robber during a stopover on the holiday island of Barbados.

Horrified tourists rushed to the couple’s aid after hearing shots and screams in an area popular with holidaymakers on the outskirts of the island's usually safe capital, Bridgetown.

Several administered emergency first aid until an ambulance arrived and rushed the injured tourists, who are believed to be married, to the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Two Britons on a Caribbean cruise are recovering in hospital after being shot by an armed robber in Barbados

The brazen attack happened in broad daylight, shortly before 2pm

The man, in his 70s, was shot in the
left pelvis area, while the woman, in her 50s, was shot in the right
thigh as they made their way back to their cruise ship. The Daily Telegraph reported they are a married couple.

Officers from the Royal Barbados
Police Force said the attacker stole the woman's handbag and fled the
scene before police arrived.

The couple's injuries are not life threatening and both are said to be in a ‘comfortable’ condition.

A spokesman for the Royal Barbados Police Force said: 'We can tell you two British tourists, a couple, received gunshot wounds.

'It appears the incident was a robbery, the female's handbag was stolen.

The man, in his 70s, was shot in the left side, while the woman, in her 50s, was shot in the right thigh as they made their way back to their cruise ship

An ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting and rushed the injured tourists to the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital (pictured)

'They are currently receiving medical attention but are not in a life threatening condition.

'They are talking to our detectives to assist with the investigation.

'The incident occurred at about 2pm on
the outskirts of Bridgetown. We believe the couple were making there
way back to their cruise ship.'

'We are aware of an incident involving two
British tourists in Bridgetown, Barbados. We are providing consular
assistance.'

The FCO

Approximately 250,00 British tourists
visit Barbados every year and attacks are rare, according to the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

And many celebrities, including Sir Cliff Richard, Cilla Black and Gary Lineker have homes there.

But in January this year, leading
professor Dr James Bridges, 72, and his wife Olga Bridges, 62, were
savagely attacked by a knife wielding intruder just moments after
arriving at their holiday villa on the island.

Dr Bridges, who fought to protect his
wife, was stabbed three times while his wife suffered grievous wounds,
including a punctured spleen and diaphragm.

In 2010, two British women, Dr Rachel
Turner, 30 and Diane Davies, 63, were raped within days of each other as
they holidayed in Barbados.

A man was arrested for the incident
but was eventually cleared of rape last year after the women informed
police they had the wrong man. The assailant is still at large.

In 2005 young British holidaymaker
Daniel May, 20, was shot dead as he wrestled with two armed intruders
who were trying to enter the luxury villa he was sharing with his
parents.

He was shot three times, once in head and twice in the chest, while his devastated parents survived the horrific ordeal.